There is currently one Democrat from the North Country who is a member of the state legislature. He is Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine who despite amazing odds was able to be elected to the Assembly defeating long-standing Republican rule in the North Country.

A practicing commodity dairy farmer from outside of Watertown, he was able to pull a traditionally Republican district into Democratic hands by mixing an amazing batch of conservative social position, astute business practices, and smart politics. He knew how to talk to his people and how to represent their values as a progressive Democrat. He has stood for those values, but at the same time staked out progressive positions that will be good for the often poor and marginal constituents that he represents.

It is exciting to see him running for the State Senate. He’s not only our shining star in the North County, but he has a lot of potential to remake the State Senate in a more progressive image. He’s not the social liberal some would desire, yet he knows how to represents his people. People respect people like him who work hard, and pull themselves up from their bootstraps into high political office. Aubertine is no political hack, guaranteed to win office, he has fought every step he has gotten to be where he currently is.

His opponent will be Republican Assemblyman Bill Barclay of Oswego. While the Republicans clearly have an enrollment advantage and historical advantage in this district that has never been Democratic before, it seems Aubertine is up and ready to fight it. This seat could up end the Senate Republican Majority to it’s toes, and lead to their eventual defeat in 2008. Bill Barclay may be the wealthy son of a multi-million dollar Syracuse lawyer, but he has not the positions or the experience to pull himself up like Darrel Aubertine has done.

Aubertine has some solid positions on the issues. He’s great on the second admendment but also has been there solidly for the rights of workers and for fairness for farmers. However, for those of us concerned with second amendment issues and the rights of those living in Upstate New York have to pause at the possibility that Aubertine’s election will move us one step closer to a Democratic-controlled State Senate. This has unfortunately cost him the support of some organization which fear a one-party government unchecked by another party.

I have always been quite impressed by Darrel Aubertine. Yet, I have reservations about him running for State Senate. He might be able to make his magic work to win over this seat, but his departure from the Assembly will create a vacuum difficult to fulfill. Aubertine showed that Democrats can win in the North Country, and if he gives up his Assembly seat to be in the Senate, this will leave the Assembly Majority without a valuable voice.